Balancing at the lights - tricks, tips and mishaps?

Its been years since I've done it - this morning I fell off my bicycle in front of lots of people at a set of traffic lights. Rather embarrassing actually.

 

What happened is that I slowed down and did my normal trick of just edging forward a little, expecting the lights to change at any moment. In this case they did, but I'd stopped moving forward. So instead of accelerating, I all of a sudden had to worry about trying to unclip my cleat to stop me from falling. I was unsuccessful.

 

In slow motion, I could see the footpath coming closer and closer and there was nothing that I could do, except watch it come towards me.

 

Do you always unclip your cleat or do you prance around and balance that bicycle at the lights? Any tips to share?

Tags: balancing, cycling, falling+over, traffic+lights

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nick Hortovanyi on April 16, 2011 at 18:53
How you going anyway Jim?
Permalink Reply by Nick Hortovanyi on April 16, 2011 at 19:03
Still cycling - hit a car, that got in my way earlier this week - wanker indicated left, saw no car parks, then quickly flicked right and hung the car around. So feeling battered and bruised. Still cycling though! You back out yet? (havent been following everything on here lately :( )
Permalink Reply by heather on April 16, 2011 at 22:43
Nick, I added a link to your post under Collisions in new AC group Look For Cyclists. An invite to join and comment.
Permalink Reply by RD6 on April 16, 2011 at 18:48
Rollers ! they test your Balance
Permalink Reply by Baron Von Thierry on April 16, 2011 at 22:50

One of my 1st rides many many years ago, in the days when I only had strap-in type pedals, forgot to loosen the strap coming up to the lights...   of course the inevitable happened when I stopped... my one and only incident involving embarrasing acts in traffic!

Permalink Reply by Nick Hortovanyi on April 17, 2011 at 5:37
I think we all need a master class or two from these two girls http://www.wimp.com/bicycleskill/
Permalink Reply by Richard on April 17, 2011 at 13:49
While riding up a dirt road next to a creek one day, I pulled up next to a fisherman, and put my foot down ... into a hole/hollow in the ground. Over I went.
Permalink Reply by Darren Bosanko on April 17, 2011 at 18:38

if you wanna try and look "euro cool' and track stand at a set of lights you deserve what comes to ya.

 

 

Permalink Reply by CLP on April 18, 2011 at 9:08
I mostly track stand at the lights. Just find it more convenient :)
The trick is realising when you're about to get into trouble so you can unclip!
Permalink Reply by Iordan Kostadinov on April 18, 2011 at 12:30

I have straps rather then cleats but I too have fallen over quite a bit at lights, while trying to trackstand. I just laugh it off when it happens

I try to go approach the lights as slowly as possible and time it so i don't have to stop, or just get get a hold of a stobey pole/traffic light pole to balance myself without putting a foot down

Permalink Reply by Sam Young on April 18, 2011 at 19:24

Turn the  front wheel pretty sharp to the uphill side, and sometimes a judicial squeeze of the front brake can help. 

 

or, you know, get a fixie :)

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